Transgender people were supposed to be allowed to enlist in the armed forces beginning July 1. However Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in June that it would be delayed six months. Now, President Donald Trump says he wants to keep transgender people out of the military altogether. On July 26, 2017 President Donald Trump takes to Twitter to announce a ban on transgender people serving in the military. Trump wrote in a triple of continuous tweets “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow... Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming... victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you”. This announcement came after a year when former President Barack Obama lifted a ban transgender military service. This was a move that allowed active-duty troops to come out as transgender and reveal there true self. Roughly around 250 service members applied to change their gender in the past year when the ban was appealed. The Human Rights Campaign, has estimated that there are more than 15,500 active serving transgender troops, 8,800 of whom are active duty service members. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary, said that this announcement was a "military decision" and nothing other than that.
(Trumps Tweet read- top to bottom)
Vicky Hartzler, Representative of Missouri agrees with President Trump and says gender transition health care coverage for transgender military members would increase the Defense Departments health care costs by as much as roughly 8.4 million dollars. However Senator John McCain, Armed Services Committee Chairman said "There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train and deploy to leave the military regardless of there gender identity". Also a transgender activist Sarah McBride says "This isn't just about healthcare, this according to Donald Trumps tweets is about not allowing transgender people to serve at all". During the 2016 presidential race, Donald Trump called himself a "real friend" of the LGBT community. This was when the tragedy of the Orlando nightclub shooting occurred. Trump accused Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton of prioritizing "immigration policies that bring Islamic extremists" into the U.S. In June Trump tweeted "Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs". He also chastised North Carolina's disputed "bathroom law" for the LGBT, saying "transgender individuals should use whatever bathroom they want". Its not looking so great now as you can tell. Yet again another lie from our president. His decision was a huge blow for the LGBT community and let down thousands and millions of people. Instead of helping and giving them there rights they deserve, like he said, he did the complete opposite and shut off a huge community. All these individuals priority was to serve for there country and now they can't.
(President Donald Trump holding LGBT flag)
This jaw dropping topic has many people heated and confused. At this point we as Americans could only do so little and wait to see what happens next on the road. There are plentiful sides to this story and opinions that are expressed. What do you have to say to this?
The following are some videos to further explain this topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqhPO_vNScM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DgLrIV9hoA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvDfRkKnRB4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLJJr5XMU_E
Discussion Questions:
- How do you think a transgender individual would have felt waking up to this announcement? What could be there feelings, or thoughts going on in there head?
- What do you think will happen to the current 15,000 transgender members in the military?
- What is your opinion on Trumps decision? Do you agree or disagree with his actions?
- Do you think his decision was just a "military decision" or anything bias?
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ReplyDeleteHi Elisja! I’m doing my comment on your post because I believe this sudden issue has left a large impact in our society. First of all, I am very stunned that Donald Trump would discuss such an effective announcement through Twitter and not a discussion panel. Something as important as this should not be slept upon at all. I believe that Donald Trump should not clash media with his decision makings. Not only this, but during his campaign, he promised to ensure safety and equal rights for the LGBT community.By not allowing transgenders to join the military, Trump’s colors show and transgenders do not get fair rights. Although Trump claims that the military will be “burdened with the medical costs” due to transgenders, I find this argument to be simply an excuse to not allow transgenders to serve our country. Trump claimed in the past that he is an “ally” of the LGBT community, so my question for you guys is: Do you think we can fully trust Donald Trump as our president, especially after the bold statements he promised in his campaigning period that were never granted? I encourage everyone to watch this interview (https://youtu.be/W6qeynsycZI) of a transgender national guard that has served 12 years for the military. He expresses his opinion on the topic and how he feels as an active soldier. There are just about 15,000 transgenders within the military; many of them have been working in the military for decades. I think Trump should have looked at the positives rather than the negatives. Firstly, by more transgenders entering the military, there will be an ensurance of the LGBT community will be just as equal as any other human being, plus it can persuade more people to enlist. America as a country is viewed poorly from other countries because there is a great deal of discrimination against races, sexuallaties, etc. There are many people that cannot open up to others and feel protected in America because of the lack of equality. Trump banning transgenders from entering the military will only make this matter worse. This article: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/07/trump_s_transgender_ban_will_weaken_the_military.html emphasizes why transgenders matter within the military. Overall, I believe Trump made a mistake by forbidding transgenders to enter the military.
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